Help! Health insurance is bankrupting us.?

Question

when I signed up for the updated health insurance plan at work a month ago, I didn't realize that the amount they were asking was not per month but per pay period (so we're not talking about $500/month, but almost $1000/month... It was always per month before). Also the increase is almost $200 more per month from last year. I work for a charity, and I don't know what in the heck we can do. Any ideas?

Answer 1

The problem that I see with your situation is this...

You signed up during annual open enrollment, and now the new plan year has already begun.

Normally, you can only make changes to your benefit elections during the annual open enrollment period.  Aside from annual open enrollment, you generally can only make benefit plan changes when you have a qualifying event (birth, marriage, divorce, etc.).

Given that its February already, I'd be very surprised if you were allowed to make a change now.  But, it couldn't hurt to explain the situation to your HR department - you'll need to have them on your side, because they're the ones who would have to fudge some paperwork if they were going to somehow allow you to change out of sympathy to your situation.  (And there's no guarantee that they will do that, of course.  They do have rules that they are supposed to follow and enforce.)

That's the best suggestion I have for you - talk to your HR and plead for them to bend the rules for you.  (Unless, of course, you're willing to take some extreme members to legitimately be able to change your benefit plan...go from full time to part time status, quit your job entirely, have a qualifying event...birth, divorce, etc.)

Answer 2

If you are serious about reducing your cost, you need better alternatives. Look into a combination of high deductible catastrophic insurance with my simple card for the everyday medical expenses. Good luck.

Answer 3

An individual family plan will be less costly than the group plan, not more...most likely. Check out Blue Cross in your state.

Answer 4

That amount truly is outrageous, but there are a lot of factors that go into the price of your policy.

Is this individual (family) insurance, small group or large group insurance?  If it is family insurance, then you should feel free to NOT take the company plan, and shop for your own.  However, you will need a game plan when you shop for insurance, and this site can walk you through it - http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net...

If it is small group or large group insurance, the coverage will be better than an individual plan, at generally better rates.  You will simply need to choose a higher deductible plan to reduce costs, if your charity offers it.  Believe it or not, a higher deductible CAN mean overall lower health care costs.  The numbers speak for themselves, see the Deductible Worksheet on my site at:  http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net...

I wouldn't settle for just taking the plan offered.  Talk to your HR administrator about exactly what type of insurance is being offered (individual or group), and about various policies with the carrier (high v. low deductibles).

Answer 5

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Answer 6

You can opt out of the plan at work and buy your own, but similar coverage which is not company sponsored will almost certainly cost you more. Ask your employer if they have any options with higher deductibles/co-pays or lower benefits which should cost less. But health insurance for a family of 5 at $1,000/month is not out of line.

Answer 7

Will you company give you what they pay in directly if you want to get your own plan? That could be an option and then to find a high deductible or catastrophic plan. However if you have kids and they need appts etc for regular physicals and of course the usual things that come up from catching germs in school then a high deductible can mean you pay a lot per dr visit.

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